NORTHERN TRUST OPEN: Former Bruin Merrick shoots 65 to move into a tie for third at Riviera

PACIFIC PALISADES - Leave it to a UCLA guy to steal the show on the designated USC day at the Northern Trust Open.

John Merrick, a former Bruin, fired a 6-under 65 - tied for the lowest round of the day Friday - and is tied for third heading into the weekend at Riviera Country Club.

Merrick, who has friends and family following him, knows the course well from playing so many practice rounds here, and it shows.

"This is a course you can't fake it around," Merrick said. "You need to think around here, and you can't just pull out a driver on every hole or shoot at every flag. You really have to know where to miss it and where to position yourself."

Merrick is positioned just fine, one shot back of co-leaders Sang-Moon Bae and Fredrik Jacobson. Bae posted an early 6-under 65 to move into first, and Jacobson also shot 65 to move into the tie later in the afternoon.

Bae's round was quite the adventure with nine birdies and three bogeys. It's his second year on the PGA Tour but first here at Riviera.

"I'm leading now. It really means a lot," said the 26-year-old Bae, who has his first lead after a round. "I'm only playing two years on the PGA Tour. I think the afternoon group (would) get the higher scores, 10, 11 under, I think. I will do my best (today) and (Sunday)."

No one did get to 10-under, so Bae maintained a share of the lead. He'll play in the final group with Jacobson, who had just one bogey, and Merrick today. The cutline was 2-over 144.

John Rollins fired a 6-under 65 and is tied for third as well. Luke Donald - the highest-ranked player in the world here at No. 3 - shot a 5-under 66 and is in fifth.

Phil Mickelson is lurking. Mickelson, a two-time champion of the Northern Trust Open, shot a 4-under 67 and that was with a double-bogey on the par-3 10th hole. He's tied for 13th, two shots back.

"I felt like (Friday) my game was pretty sharp," Mickelson said. "I drove the ball well. I hit some pretty good iron shots. I hit a lot of iron shots the way I wanted to, and I feel like I'm putting good. So I just need to put it together for the right number."

John Mallinger (Long Beach State) moved into the top 10 with a 5-under 66 and is tied for third. Defending champion Bill Haas shot a 4-under 67 and is four shots back. Merrick, who plays out of Virginia Beach Country Club in Long Beach with Mallinger and several other professional golfers, is feeling good about his game. The 30-year-old Merrick is hoping that will translate into a win sooner rather than later.

"It's very difficult," Merrick said. "I've had a couple of close calls and dwelling on it and thinking about it. I think it's even harder. I think winning just happens when you're kind of in your process and playing well and doing the best you can on each shot.

"I think it's a result of that and winning just kind of happens. I try not to dwell on it. I just try to play well each day and do the best you can and hopefully some day it will happen."

Michael Block, a pro at Arroyo Trabuco in Mission Viejo, shot a 2-over 73 but still made the cut and is tied for 50th.

UCLA alum Brandt Jobe, who was just two shots off the lead Thursday after shooting a 5-under 66, shot a 4-over 75 and is tied for 37th. Fred Couples made the cut, per usual, and is tied for 26th, seven shots back after a 1-over 72.

Northern Trust Open exemption winner Jeremiah Wooding fired a 5-under 66 on Friday to move to 1-under for the tournament. He becomes the first NTO exemption winner to make the cut. Wooding eagled No. 1 and No. 11 on Friday. The Northern Trust Open exemption is given to a golfer who best helps advance diversity in golf.

"We are a small group of minority golfers, and we are a small crew," Wooding said. "Not to take anything away from the guys that had come before me (including brother Joshua) but this is an opportunity that is well appreciated by the five of us that have gotten an exemption.